Monday, June 5, 2017

Should I Be Using A Standing Desk?

Sitting kills. That's the headline many of you would have seem or read in the last few years. You've also read or heard that sitting is the new smoking. And if you've been following our blog, I've written before that despite exercising a lot, if you sit too much at work, you can be what is known as an active couch potato. Worse still, all that sitting can negate the benefits of your exercise.

Well fortunately for me, I hardly get to sit much when I'm working in the clinic.

Many of my patients have asked about the benefits of a standing desk. I even found a picture (below) of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill working on his slanted standing desk.

My take on standing desks? I've seen many of my patients go straight from sitting to a standing desk get different problems. Being unaccustomed on their feet all day long poses new risks. It can inhibit proper circulation and add additional pressure to your hips, legs and lower back. Sort of like jumping from the frying pan into the fire if you ask me.

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About Gino Ng

Prior to joining Physio Solutions and starting up Sports Solutions, Gino Ng worked as a senior sports physiotherapist at the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) from 1999-2009. He graduated with a double masters in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia on a SSC sponsorship.

Gino's position is perhaps most unique amongst sports physiotherapists in Singapore having seen all sides of the field as a practitioner, an athlete and as a patient.

His special interests are in the treatment of articular cartilage injuries having done research in the area whilst undergoing his postgraduate training. He specializes in treating sports injuries, as well as devising sports rehabilitation programmes after reconstructive surgeries to the shoulder, knee and ankle joints.

As a former national triathlete, Gino is a 2-time Singapore National Triathlon champion (2000-2001), National Duathlon champion (2001), 10-time winner of the National Vertical Marathon (1998-2001, 2004-2005, 2007-2010). He has also placed 4th at the 2001 Asian Duathlon Championships in Hong Kong and made several podium finishes in the Asian Cup Triathlon Series events over the years while holding down a full time job as a physiotherapist.

Partly as a result of his gruelling training regime, Gino needed 3 knee surgeries in 2002 and 2003. After which he made a comeback and placed 4th in the 2005 SEA Games triathlon event.

When not participating, Gino has kept close to sports, travelling widely with the Singapore medical teams for major overseas events such as the various SEA Games, 2002, 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2006 Asian Games and he is the only local Singaporean physiotherapist to have been to both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Gino is also one of only two certified Kinesio Taping Instructors (CKTI) in Singapore and teaches the Kinesio Taping Level 1, 2, 3 & 4 courses. He is also a frequent speaker at symposiums and sporting events.

While out cycling in April 2013, Gino had an accident and fractured his skull and spine. Thankfully, he is a lot better now and is back working part time. Having neck and back pain? Well, now you know who came back from a broken skull and back.